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Newly identified drug peddler arrested in a buy-bust operation

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ALBUERA, Leyte— Six sachets of suspected shabu were seized from a newly identified drug peddler during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the local police on November 16, in Barangay Poblacion, this town.

Police Captain Julio Tamayo, chief of police, identified the suspect as Primo Caparos, 49, single, jobless, and a resident of the area.

Caparos is listed as a street-level individual (SLI) in the Albuera PNP’s drug watch list.
During the operation, an undercover operative purchased a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 from the suspect. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, led to the recovery of five more sachets of suspected shabu inside a small plastic container.

In an interview, the suspect admitted that he recently resumed selling illegal drugs after years of abstaining, claiming he had stopped during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He also confessed to being a drug user, saying his last use was on the morning of the day he was arrested.

Charges for violating Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspect at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Baybay City. He is currently detained at the lock-up cell of Albuera MPS.

(ROBERT DEJON)

Samar officials thank Speaker Romualdez for Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair

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Samar officials emphasized the significance of the BPSF in addressing the needs of their communities and bringing essential services closer to the people. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY— Samar officials expressed their gratitude to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez for bringing the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) to their province, benefiting tens of thousands of residents.

Samar officials emphasized the significance of the BPSF in addressing the needs of their communities and bringing essential services closer to the people. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

The two-day event, held on November 22-23 at the Calbayog Sports Complex in Calbayog City, attracted attendees from across the province and beyond, thanks to the operational Calbayog Airport. A total of 61 congressmen from various parts of the country also attended the fair.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan highlighted the impact of the event, noting that over 60,000 residents from across the province availed of essential services and financial assistance.

“This administration, under President Bongbong Marcos and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, truly understands our needs, particularly in agriculture and education,” Governor Tan said during the event’s opening ceremony.

Samar 1st District Representative Stephen James Tan, whose district includes Calbayog City, revealed that he and his brother, Representative Michael Reynolds Tan, had personally invited Speaker Romualdez to bring the BPSF to Samar.

Rep. Tan reminded attendees of Romualdez’s long-standing support for the province, even before becoming House Speaker.

“He was not yet Speaker at that time, but he was one of the principal authors of the bill creating the Samar Island Medical Center back in 2021. That’s how much our Speaker loves the people of Samar,” Rep. Tan said.

He added that Romualdez, as Speaker, ensured the allocation of funds for the proposed Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog City.

Congress has earmarked P500 million in the 2024 national budget for the construction of what is envisioned to be the largest medical facility on Samar Island.

Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy also thanked Speaker Romualdez for choosing Calbayog City as the venue for the BPSF.

“We are grateful to President Bongbong Marcos and Speaker Romualdez for bringing government services closer to the people, ensuring fast, efficient, and accessible service delivery,” Mayor Uy said in his welcome message.

The event facilitated the distribution of approximately P716 million worth of services and financial assistance provided by various government agencies.

Among the programs offered was the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), which distributed P5,000 each to over 21,000 beneficiaries.

Samar officials emphasized the significance of the BPSF in addressing the needs of their communities and bringing essential services closer to the people.

(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL AMAZONA)

TCDEO extends aid to Typhoon Kristine victims

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TYPHOON ASSISTANCE. Personnel of the Tacloban City District Engineering Office packed the relief goods they have collected intended for victims of Super Typhoon ‘Kristine.(TCDEO)
TYPHOON ASSISTANCE. Personnel of the Tacloban City District Engineering Office packed the relief goods they have collected intended for victims of Super Typhoon ‘Kristine.(TCDEO)

TACLOBAN CITY — The Tacloban City District Engineering Office has provided relief assistance on November 11, 2024 to victims of Typhoon Kristine, which has devastated several regions in the Philippines, leaving at least 116 people dead and affecting over 6.7 million individuals.

Personnel from the engineering office contributed essential supplies, including canned goods, drinking water, biscuits, and clean, dry clothing.

These items were delivered to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office VIII to ensure proper and secure distribution to affected areas.

Typhoon Kristine, internationally known as Trami, caused widespread destruction across multiple regions, including CALABARZON, the Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, and parts of Mindanao. Agricultural losses alone are estimated at P2.9 billion, alongside significant damage to homes and infrastructure.

“We stand in solidarity with our fellow Filipinos affected by Typhoon Kristine. Our collective efforts in providing these relief goods aim to alleviate the suffering and help communities recover more swiftly from the devastation,” District Engineer Rebecca G. Yuse emphasized the importance of unity and prompt action in times of calamity.

The donations from the Tacloban City District Engineering Office represent a crucial part of the ongoing relief efforts across the country, as communities strive to rebuild and recover from the significant impact of Typhoon Kristine.

(PUBLIC INFORMATION UNIT)

A plea for our leaders

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Power should never be built on violence. As the country approaches a critical political juncture, Filipinos plead for leaders to uphold respect for human life over any ambition to secure or retain authority. Employ all political strategies, but never resort to bloodshed in pursuit of your goals.

History is a stern teacher. From the chaos of coup d’états to the unifying yet turbulent People Power movements, the Philippines has seen the disastrous consequences of leaders prioritizing personal ambition over national peace. These events leave deep scars on communities and erode trust in institutions meant to protect democracy. Leaders who resort to violence gamble not just with their legacy but with the nation’s fragile stability. Such actions do not secure loyalty; they ignite resentment.

The electorate deserves respect. If people place their trust in someone else, it is a decision that reflects their collective voice and vision for the future. Eliminating rivals to secure an uncontested path to power only highlights weakness and fear of fair competition. A leader who truly serves the public understands that governance is a privilege, not an entitlement, and accepts the outcome of free elections with dignity.

The Armed Forces, historically the guardians of state integrity, also watch with silent vigilance. Soldiers swear allegiance not to individuals but to the Republic. Any attempt to manipulate them for personal gain risks triggering unrest within their ranks, threatening the very fabric of national order. History reminds us that even those who wield temporary control over the military often lose when the institution aligns itself with justice and public sentiment.

To avert catastrophe, leaders must embrace principled politics and seek reconciliation, not domination. Elections should be a battlefield of ideas, not a theater of violence. Respect the will of the people; ensure peaceful transitions to preserve democracy, protect lives, and leave behind a legacy worth remembering.

Divided unity

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DOMS PAGLIAWAN

I am disillusioned. The Unity Team I fervently supported during the last presidential elections—a team I believed would rise above petty squabbles and serve as a beacon of hope for this divided nation—is now in tatters. From staunch allies promising collective progress, they have devolved into bitter rivals, slinging mud and dismantling each other’s reputations. Their once-solid camaraderie has crumbled, leaving me questioning if unity was ever anything more than a campaign slogan.

It’s disheartening to watch their political infighting unfold like a poorly-written soap opera, each episode more absurd than the last. Instead of working together to address poverty, corruption, and the myriad issues plaguing our nation, they’ve turned politics into a gladiator match, wielding scandals and accusations like swords. What’s worse is that I once cheered for these gladiators, believing they’d fight for me, for us. Now, it feels like they’ve dragged us into the arena to watch the carnage, indifferent to the damage they’ve inflicted on our collective morale.

I had hoped for leaders who would prioritize the welfare of the people over their egos. Instead, what we have are power-hungry actors desperate for the spotlight, their grand promises reduced to soundbites replayed in mocking irony. Their public feuds aren’t just embarrassing; they’re a betrayal of the trust we placed in them. It’s like watching parents squabble over inheritance while their children go hungry. What happened to leadership for the greater good?

Frankly, I’m exhausted. Politics in this country has become an endless circus where clowns run the show and the audience never gets the laugh it deserves. Every election cycle, the same tired scripts are recycled, just with different actors. And like an eternal optimist—or perhaps a fool—I once believed that this time would be different. I cast my vote with hope in my heart, only to find that hope repeatedly trampled underfoot.

If I were younger, perhaps I would have already packed my bags, chasing the dream of greener pastures abroad. There’s something unbearably stifling about staying in a place where the future feels like a never-ending rerun of past mistakes. But I’m older now, tied down by responsibilities and a strange, persistent love for this country that refuses to let me go, no matter how bitter I feel about it. I still dream of change, but that dream feels like a distant mirage, fading with each political scandal.

The worst part of all this is the sense of betrayal. I believed in unity, in the possibility of working together to mend this broken country. I believed in their vision—or at least the vision they painted during campaign rallies, where everything glittered with promises of progress and hope. Now, I’m left wondering if I was duped by a mirage, chasing an illusion that was never real to begin with.

I can’t help but think about the younger generation. What kind of example are we setting for them? They’re watching all this unfold, learning that politics is less about public service and more about personal gain. We’re raising a generation that might grow up too cynical to believe in democracy, too disillusioned to care. It’s a frightening thought, but who can blame them when this is the reality they inherit?

Perhaps it’s time to look beyond personalities and focus on systems that work. Leaders come and go, but institutions, if built well, can outlast them. Maybe the answer lies in strengthening accountability and ensuring that no one is above the law—not even those who promise unity, only to turn on each other. For now, I can only hope, even if hope feels like the most fragile thing I have left.

Typhoons are getting stronger nowadays!

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CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III

Ours is a place of pain and hurt in times of Typhoons. As 20 plus strong winds that never blows lonely but with the whistle of destructions every single year. we can never be accustomed to something perennially destructive.

When Yolanda came, it was one of the most painful time for Eastern Visayas, it was and still is the most destructive Typhoon ever.

Now with TD Kristine, TD Ofel and TD Pepito we are seeing extra strong wallop in the winds of these Tropical Depression and it is feared the Super Typhoon norm is here. Why and what could be the reason for the incremental uptick of the gustiness of the winds?

In a story appearing in ABS CBN, it disclosed that as per, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said at least two factors affect the formation of stronger storms and the path they take, namely, warmer sea surface temperature in the central Pacific Ocean and high pressure.

“’Yung mainit na sea surface temperature, isa yan sa mga factor kung bakit may nabubuo na mga cloud clusters na eventually po ay nagiging bagyo. Dahil sa high pressure area during ‘ber’ months, mas napu-push pababa yung direksyon ng mga bagyo so either westward or west northwest towards Mindanao, Visayas and Central Luzon,” he said.

The overall warming of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans contributes to more intense weather patterns, including stronger typhoons. The increased heat leads to more unstable atmospheric conditions, resulting in more powerful storms.

Sadly, Warmer Oceans and Climate Change are doing the dual damage to our Typhoon firing range which is the Eastern and Northern Pacific area in our country . The term Firing Range is Metaphoric of our location as the primary path of the Tropical Depressions. It had always been that way since time immemorial.

What can we do? we should have been adapting. Resilience indeednis a big word, but adaptation must be the key. If we see Typhoons 20 plus times every year, it would be foolish not to be ready. It is adapting to this reality that beseech and ravage us. Adaptation, preparedness and proactive actions not resilience must be the big word.

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